by Christine Hammond on May 6, 2017
One of the defining characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a lack of accurate perception of reality. The narcissist sees the world through a self-absorbed lens in which they are the stars and others are there to support and serve them. Those attracted to the narcissist are dazzled by the superficial self-confidence, convincing opinions, charming… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 6, 2017
It’s a toss-up between who is more confused: millennials because the world does not work the way they envision it should or other generations because they don’t understand how millennials think. All of the extra attention, special treatment, and emotional support that parents gave their kids have not resulted in a more productive generation but… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 6, 2017
The nervousness, tension, and terror that Meryl Streep portrays as Miranda Priestly in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” is all too familiar for some. Sadly, many narcissists rise to the top of the food chain with ease leaving a trail of destroyed relationships behind. When a narcissist sets their sites on executive status, they… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 12, 2017
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” Juliet says in protest to Romeo’s last name in Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet. Her point is that a name is not always descriptive of who a person is. And so it is with psychological terms… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 12, 2017
There is a moment of realization when working with a person who seems nice on the surface that something is not right. It usually comes in a flash and without awareness, it retreats just as quickly. It is important to listen to those warning signals. Deceptive people often mask their deviousness, anger, manipulation, and controlling… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on April 11, 2017
Being the victim of a narcissistic smear attack is not fun. Rather, it is an intense campaign designed to humiliate an opponent while simultaneously elevating the narcissist. It requires quite a bit of skill, manipulation, and persistence to successfully pull one-off. But for the victim, it can be a shocking and damaging experience. In an… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on March 8, 2017
Recently a teenager came into my office complaining about the anxiety they were experiencing from their Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) parent. They gave me a few examples. The compulsive handwashing that led to dry and sometimes bloody hands was imposed on everyone in the household. There was a sense of superiority that this family did… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 23, 2017
The media loves to cover narcissists almost as much as a narcissist loves to be covered by the media. And why not? The narcissist’s stories are colorful, prone to exaggeration, intentionally divisive, and feature them as the star. It is easy reporting because it is naturally interesting, requires limited verification, and is emotionally charging. A… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 3, 2017
Dysfunctional behavior applies to everyone. It’s not just the narcissist who is flawed in their perception and responses. The people around them frequently utilize maladjusted coping mechanisms (or defense mechanisms) in an attempt to handle the toxic situation or manage the narcissism. Here are some real life examples: An employee realizes their boss is a… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on January 28, 2017
A client walked into my office for the first time and began to describe her husband as a narcissist. They had been married for 15 years, had two children, were well-established in the community, and were both very career-oriented. She came across an article about narcissism and concluded that her husband fit the profile. Not… (more…)